Curriculum

Junior Kindergarten

List of 9 items.

Art exposes students to a wide array of art forms and provides an introduction to basic techniques. By connecting with concepts and skills that are a focus within the classroom, art experiences in the studio extend students' knowledge of media tools as well as the expressive, perceptive relationship of the artist to the world around us.

Language and play are the major tools for learning about the world, and they are also the most important tools for early literacy learning. In our developmentally appropriate literacy-rich classrooms, students develop a strong foundation through an emphasis in the development of speaking and listening skills, vocabulary building, and print and phonemic awareness in intentional and meaningful ways.

Students come to the library for 30 minutes each 6-day cycle. They choose a picture book from a collection of titles appropriate for their grade. They can take the book home and return it for the next storytime.

Mathematics is presented through hands-on explorations and real life applications. Students develop an understanding and insight into the patterns of mathematics through the use of concrete materials. Mathematical concepts include: one-to-one correspondence, recognizing numbers, comparing and ordering sets of objects, recognizing and extending patterns, sorting, graphing, measuring and counting.

Movement allows students to use their imagination as they explore dance, yoga, and other physical activities in a creative way. Through the use of games, drama, storytelling and role-play, students develop and strengthen body awareness, body control and self-confidence.

Students are introduced to musical concepts through singing, moving and playing pitched and unpitched instruments. We explore a variety of musical styles to develop an understanding of the role that music plays in our lives and the lives of others. Students have opportunities to create music and perform for each other within the classroom environment, fostering personal confidence as well as a positive and supportive classroom environment. This "hands on" approach to learning helps create a musical foundation to build upon throughout their education.

The social studies curriculum weaves the themes of our community, animals and habitats, construction and transportation, and the Earth into the Junior Kindergartners’ day. Each child learns about community roles in order to recognize that people have different functions and responsibilities. The children learn to recognize features and locations in their environment of Collegiate and its campus. Personal safety in their habitats is a steady focus for the students while learning about important transportation such as an ambulance and a fire truck. They also learn to recognize and understand the importance of taking care of their environment through recycling.

Kindergarten

List of 9 items.

Art introduces students to various art forms through exposure to works from many cultures, styles and artists. Kindergartners learn basic art concepts that they use as the framework for their visual appreciation and expression. Instruction in age-appropriate media and techniques provides the foundation for kindergartners to engage in a wide variety of art activities and express their individual creativity. Art appreciation and museum etiquette is highlighted in an annual field trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The kindergarten language arts program focuses on developing reading readiness skills, as well as introducing the students to formalized lessons in writing, speaking, and listening. The primary objective is to give each child a positive experience in an organized school environment.

Math activities in kindergarten are designed to develop an understanding of and insight into the patterns of mathematics through the use of hands-on materials. The activities are arranged to help young children see relationships and interconnections in mathematics and to enable them to deal flexibly with mathematical ideas and concepts.

Music allows students opportunities for numerous introductory experiences. Students sing, move, and play a variety of instruments as they are introduced to musical concepts. Listening skills are honed through guided activities that include a study of time periods, genres, composers and instrumentation. Kindergarten music enables the beginning learner to become familiar with concepts of the music curriculum, laying a foundation for future study and fostering a love and respect for this discipline.

The main focus of PE is on exploration of movement as it relates to personal and general space. Locomotor and non-locomotor skills are taught in relationship to spatial awareness and in a variety of levels, speeds, and directions. The children have the opportunity to develop eye-hand coordination by using a variety of manipulatives. We teach elementary fitness concepts as well as exercises which are taught to begin to develop an appreciation for life-long fitness. Through each class the children begin to develop essential values that promote good character.

The primary goal of our science curriculum is to provide the kindergarten child with an introduction to science. Teachers begin with the child’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder and encourage this enthusiasm with the introduction of each new concept.

The social studies curriculum begins the year with a focus on communities. Children are immersed in understanding their roles in the classroom community and the larger Collegiate community. During the second semester, our learning expands to our local community and our city, Richmond. This includes field trips around the city touching on urban, suburban and rural areas. Economics is intertwined into the curriculum as students play the role of producers and consumers, creating and selling local products at our culmination event, the RVA Marketplace.

The primary goal of the Spanish program for Kindergarten is to develop an awareness, interest and enthusiasm for the language, the people, and their culture. The program seeks to develop students' listening, and speaking skills. The language is taught primarily through visual aids, listening activities, and student participation. An effort is made to accommodate the needs of many learning styles.

All K-4 students participate in year-long technology and engineering classes that cover the areas of fundamental computer skills, coding, robotics and children’s engineering. This curriculum is closely tied to the math and science curriculum to give students a true STEAM experience. A glimpse into the curriculum shows Kindergarteners proudly standing in front of a fan to test their windproof hat designs and others creating digital paintings of the city’s night skyline.

Information Sheets

Early Education For Excellence

Collegiate knows that early education is vital to helping children reach their greatest potential. They may be tiny, but during their first few years of life, they’re forming mighty neural connections that are the foundation for all imminent and lifelong learning. The stronger the connection, the more powerful the development and the more promising the future.

WHY COLLEGIATE

The rich experiences Collegiate offers in its Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Kindergarten (K) programs will give your child a dynamic jumpstart. We go beyond the classroom to develop a diverse skill set that will benefit your young scholar for years to come. In JK, our students enjoy planned, purposeful play designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. In K, they experience classes that stress holistic development, inspire confidence and encourage civic-mindedness. In tandem, these programs can mean the difference between a life that is merely lived and a life lived with promise and purpose.